I wish I could say there is a deep, central American love for all things chile, but sadly that isn't really the case. As much as I asked around, each time the conversation came up and I asked why I wasn't seeing more peppers in the markets and in gardens, the answer was always something to the effect of "Tico's don't eat a lot of spicy foods!"

Interesting to say the least! Especially considering that one of the MAIN "condiments" on nearly every table in Costa Rica was something called "Chilero" Simply put, its peppers, carrots, onions, cauliflower, and other random veggies in vinegar. It generally tends to look like this:

This was a quick iphone shot of some in some random soda/cafe but its on nearly everyone's table at home as well. Everyone has their own version on the table.

Which peppers do they have? Mainly three types. As seen here are listed from left to right, as listed on labels in markets:

Aji Dulce, Chile Panameña, Aji Chile

The Dulce (top left) means sweet, and is.

The Panameña (middle bottom) is chinense, sort of like a Caribbean Red

The "Aji Chile" (top right) is baccatum who knows what it's really called. Someone mentioned they are Peruvian.

Now, of course I didn't stop there. I kept looking and asking around. At one of the airbnb's we stayed in I took a walk around the gardens and viola! Found some sickly looking plants amongst the flowers. It stays wet in Costa Rica, especially in the wet season. I imagine thats a main reason for the state of the plants. None the less, I found some that clearly are a homegrown pheno of the Panameña and a version of the Chile Aji as well. Perhaps a cross on that last one. Here there are hidden amongst the gardens.

So...as the trip came to an end, I thought I'd be leaving with only the three main peppers to be found. On the last day of the trip, one of the owners at the airbnb came to us at dinner and handed me a new variety. While it wasn't the freshest, and somewhat starting to dry out, I could still see the unique shape. One he called "Campaña" meaning Bell.

Here is a shot of fresh ones I found after some searching.

So it seems that it wasn't my lack of attention that resulted in coming up short the first trip to Costa Rica. It's just that they really don't have that many varieties that get grown or eaten there.

Either way, these four will be part of my grows from now on and will be featured this coming season for sure!

It almost seems as if they see peppers as normal plants and veggies , not as the speciality product we pepperheads do.

That orange coloured Aji " from Peru" looks like an Amarillo.

Yeah, and the "campana" is either bishops crown or Brazilian star fish. Many names for the same genetics!

Nice!

Great trip and info. Thanks for sharing

Glad yall enjoyed it. Contemplating the next adventure now.

Something interesting:

Malarky was kind enough to send me one of my favorite pepper seeds, Aribibi Gusano (caterpillar) well I ended up with three different plants!

I knew the red ones had showed themselves months ago, but today I just realized there was apparently a seedling in the same planting hole as the original and its ripening with huge PEACH colored pods, with pointy tips. Interesting!

So...as the trip came to an end, I thought I'd be leaving with only the three main peppers to be found. On the last day of the trip, one of the owners at the airbnb came to us at dinner and handed me a new variety. While it wasn't the freshest, and somewhat starting to dry out, I could still see the unique shape. One he called "Campaña" meaning Bell.

Here is a shot of fresh ones I found after some searching.

A gal at work who is from Mexico and I share peppers. Her English is about as good as my Spanish...LOL.She brought me a few of those (same?) peppers. She called them "bells", They are NOT Bishops Crown peppers. I have the seeds...somewhere. My sister and her family is currently in Costa Rica; she and her husband teach. He's a chilihead. I really need to get with him